Help - not in any GPs catchment area

usignuolo

I have a young friend who moved out of the family home into her own flat last year. The flat is in a conversion of a large 1930s art deco office building on a former trading estate. Last week she was taken ill and booked an appointment with her family GP.

When she turned up there, she told them her new address (which of course was a mistake but she didn't realise that at the time). The receptionist told her she was no longer in their catchment area (she is about 6 miles away) and would have to re-register with a local GP.

So she went back to her flat and called in at the two nearest GPs to it. Both told her she was not in their catchment area so could not register. When she asked where she should register, she was told that because her flat is on what used to be a trading estate (and still is partially) it does not fall into any local GP catchment area. So at present she is unable to register with any GP.

What to do next? She really needs to register with someone. Who should she approach to sort it out?

suki1964

The PCT should get her registered with a Gp practice

jenniewb

Agree, when I lived in a place that was too far for any of the doctors I called around me aside from one which was outside of my borough and another which was over subscribed.
I called the PCT, they basicly had to force a GP's practice to take me on but they did and it was all fine. It seems like they have the end say and will sort things out and fairly quickly.

pmduk

Assuming you are in England the above advice is correct. The local PCT has a legal obligation to ensure you are able to register with a GP and if necessary will instruct a practice to register you. There will be similar requirements in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland, unfortunately I don't know the names of the relevant organisations with the responsibility.

SailorSam

If you're friend wanted to stay with her existing her Gp she could go back and ask again.
A similar thing happend to me, when i moved from the family home about 3mls the doctor said i was out of his area. I said if he looked i'd been with the surgery since i was born and hardly ever came there, i was the type of customer he should want, getting paid for and not seeing me. He said the thing was if i ever wanted a home visit they couldn't come out, i said if i was ever that ill i'd probably go back to stay in my Mums which was in his area anyway.
The thing was i didn't know how to start changing doctors and 'cos i didn't go that often i may move house again before i needed a doctor. At the time i think i'd been about 15yrs in my 'new' house but just never thought to mention the change of address. He told me i could stay but reminded me not to expect a home visit. A few yrs later i did move and now i'm back in the area i started at.

usignuolo

I am a bit puzzled by this home visits thing, as far as I know our practice doesn't do them it is all outsourced.

suki1964

usignuolo wrote: »

I am a bit puzzled by this home visits thing, as far as I know our practice doesn't do them it is all outsourced.

Outscourced or not - you have to be in your GP's catchment area for a home visit.

I moved but need to be treated by my old GP. In order to do so I siagned a waiver that I would not ever ask of out of hours treatment ( I actually lived 200 yards from an A + E dept so that was no hardship) and I carried on at the same practice till I moved countries

Callie22

suki1964 wrote: »

Outscourced or not - you have to be in your GP's catchment area for a home visit.

I moved but need to be treated by my old GP. In order to do so I siagned a waiver that I would not ever ask of out of hours treatment ( I actually lived 200 yards from an A + E dept so that was no hardship) and I carried on at the same practice till I moved countries

Same for me - I moved half a mile out of my GPs catchment area and was told that it was at the GPs discretion whether they would keep me on their books or not (fortunately they did). However, I also had to sign a form saying that I would not request a home visit.

minimoneysaver

Same for me. I'm quite far out of the area for my GP's catchment. I have various complicated health issues and my GP said no home visits, but he'd keep me on as he is familiar with my health problems and I know the practise nurses etc.